Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-02
The seaforth uirhIsnderS.

ments is a subject which newspapers
frequently devote a paragraph to, but
the information vOuchsaied Is not al
ways correct. The appended brief sketch
of the composition Of the Fiyt Battalion
Seaforth Highlauders viii doubtless
prove interesting.
The regiment which recruits most ex-
clusvcly from the northern counties and
has been most energetic IN endeayoring
throughout its existence to maintain a
firm connection with its place OF birth is
the Seaforth Highandors, the First bat
talon Of which is presently stationed at
Edinburgh Castle. 1t was from this re-
giment that Gaelic-speaking furlough
party was detached last year under Quar-
termaster- Sergeant Anderson, of Strath
bOgie, TO traverse the northern counties,
visiting the relatives OF men serving in
the Seaforth, huntinSup pension
crs, Undermining with the volunteers, AMI
endeavoring to lay before their kindred
a correct description Of tho realities Of
army life. They were not M enlisting
party and held ont no fictitious hopes to
their friends. Yet their Journey resulted
in a considerable influx OF Highland lads
to the depot at Fort George Ihisyeir,
again. detachment under Lieutenant
Barlow and q. Vi. ). Anderson, of about
fifty men belonging to the isles and adj
jacent coast, were quartered for two
months at Stornoway, to the mutual
pleasure both OF the soldiers and their
kinsfolk. Their presence did muchtO dis
pei the prejudice entertained against the
service in these regions, and before their
departure their relations had learned to
look upon them with no small amount
of pride. About thirty recruits from the
Long Island joined the colOrs. The
expense of both these expeditions was
entirely betrayed by the officers Of the
regiment Since then nearly hundred
north country men have been sent on
detachmentto Fort George, from whence
they will be able to take advantage OF
the iurlough season winch commences
this month, and thus spend few weeks
with their relatives at small cost to them
selves
At the present time the First Battalion
Seaforth Highianders is, perhaps, the
most representative Highland battalion
in the service. It's strength by the last
weekly returns is Sl4, made up thus:
Scotch, GO Irish, %;
English, 1lj; Colonial, l;
whose denominations are thus shown
Presbyterlans, G0l; Roman Catholics, "A;
Episcopalans, 1872; Wesleyans, !.
OF the 669 shown as Scotch 1874 are
Highlanders from the Western and
Island clans, whose mother tongue is the
Gaelic, and to whom English is an nc
quired language lO1 are Highlanders
from the northern and ccntIal districts
who speak Gaelic, but not so fluently as
they do English 81 are HighlAnders
from the central and northeastern dis
tricts, who understand little or 20 Gaelic.
The remainder are IOwland Scots, many
of them bearing the patronymics OF
Highland or Border clans, and claiming
Celtic ancestry.
Amongst the names on this years roll
we find no less than lS4 preliXed with
the Celtic Mac. Amongst the clans the
most numerously represented Is the one
that was the most powerful in bygone
days-thc Macdonals, "a men. Most
prominent amongst the mainland clans
are the Mackenzies, 10; Frasers, 10;
Mackays, Is; Campbells, l3; Roses,
10; Clan Chattan (Nacintoshes and
MPhersons). 10; Stuarts, 10; Suther-
lands, Munros, and Camerons, 26.
And amongst the island clans of
the the Outer Hebrides, who were
formerly the vassaIs OF the great
Earls OF Seaiorth, Macleods, - Mae
leans, 10; Morrisons, 10; Maciyers, Mac
caulays, Macaskills, and Fnlay-ons, -.
There is scarcely an old Highland name
that has not its representative IN the
regiment, and 10 most cases he viii be
found to hail from the district to which
tradition has assigned his elan. Thus
the Farquharson Will claim Braemar, the
Gum and the Sinclair come from Cath
ness. Strathspey is yet the birthplace of
the Grants, aud Lochalsh still sends the
wild Macraes. When the regiment
was raised by Kenneth, the sixth Earl Of
Seaforth, there were $40 Macraes in its
ranks there are now but four represen-
tofiveq NJ the elan